Self-leveling table.



N0. 64!,042. Patented Jan. 9, i900. B. M. SEHAUMAN.

SELF LEVELING TABLE.

{Application filed. Mar. 17, 1899.)

[N VEN T 0/8.

No. 644,042. Patented Jan. 9, [906. B. M. SCHAUMAN.

SELF LEVELING TABLE.

(Application filed. Mar. 17, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

(No Model.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJ'.

Unrrnn Sinrns PATENT much.

BROR MAX SOHAUMAN, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND THEWHITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-LEVELING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,042, dated January9, 1900.

Application filed March 1'7, 1899. Serial No. 709,393. (No model.)

I '0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Enos MAX SOHAUMAN,

a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway,

and a resident of New York city, county of 5 New York, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDining-Tables, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in whichsimilar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to improvements in dining-tables for ships orsimilar floating vessels; and the object thereof is to supply an articleof this class which is so constructed that its surface is constantlymaintained in a horizontal position, so that dishes may be kept thereonwithout danger of being spilled or displaced by the pitching or rollingmotion of the vessel containing the table.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically setforth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figurel is a side elevation of my improved table, showing the same at rest ina horizontal position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is aplan view. Fig. I is an end elevation showing the table tiltedtransversely. Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional elevation takenon the line m of Fig. 3 and showing the table tilted longitudinally, andFig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the table-top indetail.

In the practice of my invention I employ, primarily, three longitudinalleaves A, B, and 0, arranged parallel with each other and supported byuprights D, the leaves A and C being pivotally attached to arms at ofthe uprights D by means of lugs a, secured to the respective lowersurfaces of the said leaves A and O at their outer edges. The centerleaf B is pivotally attached to arms d of the uprights D by means oflugs 12, secured centrally to the under surface of said leaf. All

of the said leaves are connected to each other by means oftransversely-extended rods E and F, which are pivotally secured todepending 5o hangers 1, 2, and 3, secured, respectively, to the undersurfaces of the said leaves, the

hangers l and 3 being extended downwardly from the under surfaces of theouter edges of the leaves A and G and the hanger 2 being extendedcentrally from the under surface of the leaf B. This arrangement of rodsmaintains the leaves in relative parallel arrangement with each otherwhen the table is tilted transversely by the rolling action of the ship.Each upright D forms a box D, which is nor- 6o mally closed by means ofa removable plate. Journaled within each box D of the up rights D bymeans of a shaft or pinion d is p a segmental weight G, which haslongitudinal extensions or arms g projected from the upper end thereof.These said arms engage parallel rods II, which are pivotally secured tolugs h,'projected from the under surface of the leaf B at each sidethereof. This weight maintains the center leaf B in a nor- 7o malhorizontal position, and by means of the transverse rods E and F theside leaves A and O are also maintained normally in horizontal position.Within the spaces between the leafsections I suspend thin metallicplates I, and they are connected to the said leaves by means of screws6, which engage slots 1'. These plates form upwardly extended horizontalflanges for the inner edges of the respective leaves when the table istilted transversely. Within a recess g of each weight G an auxiliaryswinging balance-weight J is arranged. This said balance-weight swingsupon a pivot j, extended from the inner wall of the said recess, and ithas arms j projected from each side of the upper end thereof. These armsengage rods K, and they are pivotally attached to bolts 70, which extendthrough the weight G and bear upon the inner segmental surface of thebox D. The said swinging balanceweight J acts as a means for governingthe weight G to prevent undue oscillation thereof, and the ends of thebolts 70 are preferably supplied with rubber shoes it upon their outerends for frictional contact with the inner sur- 5 face of the segmentalwall of the box D. In constructing this table any suitable number ofuprights D may be employed, depending upon the length of the leaves A,B, and C;

but in the drawings I have simply illustrated 10o two-one at each end ofthe table. These uprights are respectively supplied with supporting legsor projections D which are secured screws or bolts 01 I may also use anysuitable number of transverse connecting-rods E and F, depending uponthe length of the table, and it is obvious that each upright employed isprovided with a weight and connecting-rods for attachmentto the centerleaf. The side leaves are preferably supplied with a suitable number ofrectangular plates L, located within countersunk recesses Z and securedby means of double-acting hinges Z. Each of these said plates has an armM projected at right angles and centrally from its bottom surface. Thisarm is pivotally attached to a longitudinally-extended rod N,

which is pivoted to a swinging weight 0, the

said weight being dependent from the under surface of a side leaf of thetable by means of swinging hangers 0, which are pivotally attached tolugs 0, secured to the under surface of the said side leaf. Thisarrangement causes the plates L to be maintained in horizontal positionwhen the table is tilted 1ongitudinally by the pitching action of thevessel, as illustrated by Fig. 5 of the drawings. The supports oruprights D are preferably composed of metal, and they are connected toeach other by means of longitudinal rods or braces D but I do notconfine myself to any specific material nor to the details of mechanicalconstruction, as it is obvious that under the scope of my invention I amentitled to structural variations.

In use the table is placed parallel with the ships keel, and it isobvious that the upper surfaces of the table-leaves will be maintainedin relative parallel horizontal arrangement with each other while theship is rolling by the gravity of the swinging weights, which arenormally maintained in an upright position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tilting table for ships, comprising side leaves and a center leafarranged in parallel position, all of said leaves being collectivelypivoted on uprights and attached to each other by means of transverserods pivotally connected to said center and side leaves, and swingingweights pivoted to uprights and connected to the center leaf by means ofthe parallel rods extending upwardly from the respective sides of thepivot or fulcrum of said weight to a pivotal connection with the centerleaf, the said weights adapted to maintain the leaves in relativehorizontal position when the table is tilted by the rolling action ofthe ship, substantially as shown and described.

2. A tilting table, comprising three longitudinal leaves arrangedparallel with each other and respectively supported upon arms extendingfrom uprights, the said arms being pivoted to downwardly-projected lugsof the said leaves, and transverse rods connecting the said leaves toeach other for maintaining them in relative parallel arrangement, andweights pivoted to the said uprights and connected to the center leaf bymeans of parallel rods, the said weights adapted for maintaining theleaves in horizontal position when the table is tilted transversely,substantially as p shown and described.

3. As a tilting table, the combination of three parallel longitudinalleaves connected to each other by means of transverse rods and supportedby means of uprights, and swinging weights secured to uprights andconnected to the center leaf by means of parallel rods, and auxiliaryweights which are pivotally attached within recesses of the saidswinging weights and connected with bolts projecting through the saidswinging weights for the purpose of governing the motion thereof,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a swinging table, the combination of uprights comprisingrespectively a segmental box. and upwardly-extended arms, and parallelleaves pivotally connected to and sup ported by said arms, and swingingWeights within each of said boxes and connected to the central one ofsaid leaves by means of parallel rods, and auxiliary swinging weightspivoted within recesses of each of the said main weights, and boltsbearing upon the inner walls of the said segmental boxes and connectedto arms of the auxiliary weights, for the purpose of governing the mainweights, and depending longitudinal plates between the said leaves, anddouble-acting hinged plates within recesses of the side leaves and meansfor operating the hinged plates comprising a swinging weight and leverattachments, to maintain them in horizontal position when the table istilted longitudinally by the pitching action of a ship, substantially asshown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 25th day of February, 1899.

BROR MAX SOHAUMAN.

Witnesses:

M. G. MAGLEAN, V. E. DOREMUH.

IIO

